Hi Everyone.
I'm wondering if anyone has familiarity with the area's in the title during last two weeks of Sept and if the festivals make getting around via train and boat a big pain or is it not a big deal? I don't mind driving but the low value Canadian dollar makes car rentals incredibly expense, I always try to train or bus or boat where possible. I'm not actually going because of the festivals, call me a savage but I'm not that into wine, but that is the time I'm thinking of going. As part of a larger West Germany vacation I plan to see the Koblenz to Mainz area (best of the Rhine according to RS) , then to Cochem, Trier, in all those places seeing the things Rick Steves recommends in his book. Then since I'll be so close to Lumembourg, might as well spend a couple days there before off to Cologne and Hamburg.
Thanks for any advice people have.
Greg
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1800 posts
I wouldn't be concerned about any festivals interfering with your plans. Wine festival dates are spread out, starting in July, and many of them are in small villages which you are unlikely to visit. Punch in your dates:
https://en.visitmosel.de/wine-cuisine/wine-events
Cochem is a good spot to base in. It has a ferry landing, good bus connections, and direct trains to Koblenz, Trier and Luxembourg. Bernkastel-Kues, a great visit, can be reached by a train/ bus combo.
Posted by
Paradise
7493 posts
If you can book from Sunday through Friday you will find more availabilty and smaller crowds. Weinfest weekends:
Rhine:
Boppard 9/26 & 27
St Goar 9/19 & 20 (Rhine in Flames)
Oberwesel 9/12 & 13 (Rhine in Flames)
Mosel fests in this period tend to be smaller and less impacted.
It is always easier to get to/from the fest towns by train than by car - the towns are small, with limited parking.
Boats are for sightseeing; use the trains for transportation. Free transportation is available if you stay in Boppard or with certain providers in other Rhine/Mosel towns.
https://www.vrminfo.de/fileadmin/data_vrminfo/PDF/Gaesteticket/Infoflyer/Flyer_GT_englisch_01.pdf
List of hosts that offer this free transportation card (Boppard, where all guests get the card, is not shown.)
https://www.vrminfo.de/fileadmin/data_vrminfo/PDF/Gaesteticket/Uebersicht_Gaesteticket_Apr_2025.pdf
Posted by
Southeast US
4258 posts
I stayed in St Goarshausen for a week including Rhine in Flames in the fall of 2018 (I think). Getting around the area was easy peasy during that time -- not really impacted by the wine festival. No huge crowds.
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35302 posts
if you are considering taking a tour on the Mosel be aware that there have been two recent occurrences when ships ran into the lock gates and damaged them.
There is a temporary fix for the most recent, see concurrent thread https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/germany/ships-jammed-on-the-moselle-after-accident-at-lock and we hope that the temporary fix holds up until the gate is properly replaced which may be around the time of your visit.
Check first, anyway.
If you're not going to try a Mosel tour boat it is unlikely to affect you.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2777 posts
One year I was at the Rhine in Flames at St.. Goar. Big event. Only i,pact with the trains was the crowds after the fireworks ended. They added extra cars and there was not problem.
Another year I was at Boppard when there was some event and when it ended the train was crowded but I think just that one train.
I wouldn’t be concerned
Posted by
OP
Edmonton Alberta Canada
99 posts
Thanks Everyone for you very helpful answers. Thank you Gundersen, Russ, Dave, Nigel, and Stepen.
Looks like it's not a big deal transportation wise around those areas. I'll definitely check out Cochem as a base and check out the links people provided for the dates as well as the Moselle ship accident problem.
Greg